Filing separator with classification card holding means



May 12, 1959 F. A. RAACH, SR

FILING SEPARATOR WITH CLASSIFICATION CARD HOLDING MEANS Filed May 6, 1957 ATTORNE;

United States Patent "71 cc FILING SEPARATOR WITH CLASSIFICATION CARD HOLDING MEANS Francis A. Raach, Sr., Prairie Village, Kans.

Application May 6, 1957, Serial No. 657,444

1 Claim. (Cl. 129--16.8)

hind conventional filing separators in the cabinet drawer. Most banks follow a common practice of filing checks, during the time between periodic accounting, in a file drawerbehind a separator that has the depositors name 2,886,040 Patented May 12, 1959 card may be quickly slipped under one of the lowermost edges of the U-shaped member to thereby facilitate placement and removal of the card from the separator.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a filing system separator as described above wherein there are provided a series of integral tabs on the body below the transparent card holder at the uppermost edge thereof which cooperate with the holder to maintain the classification card and in a readily accessible easily viewable position.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a filing system separator wherein a series of the tabs are arranged in increasing spatial relationship to the card holder at the uppermost edge of the separator so that classification cards of differing sizes may be placed 0n the separator panel.

Another important object is to provide a trapezoidally configured separator card adapted to be disposed with the shortest of the two parallel sides thereof uppermost so that checks, drafts and other similar items may be readily observed from the front of the separator and thus advertently overlooked when the same are placed bethereon. Thus, the checks are maintained in a readily accessible location and sequence and they may be quickly arranged in suitable order at the time of accounting by merely removing the checks from behind the separator and rearranging the same. Because of the fact that there are usually a great many separators in each file drawer, inasmuch as accounting periods are frequent enough to prevent excessive numbers of checks accumulating in the file, there has been considerable difliculty with the persons making an accounting of the checks, overlooking checks which remain behind the separator-s in a relatively unobservable position and thus causing inaccuracies in the final statement of the account.

Furthermore, since these account separators are used a great deal and there is a relatively rapid turnover of accounts, making realphabetization of the file necessary at relatively frequent intervals, it has been found to be a difficult chore which consumes a considerable period of time to change the classification cards which are contained on the file separators to designate the person or the particular account. This is especially true of those types of separatorswhich comprise a relatively thin tab attached to the uppermost edge of the separator and which has a narrow passage therein into which may be slipped a card bearing the name of the person whose checks are to be placed behind the separator.

It is, therefore, the most important object of this invention to provide a filing system separator having improved structure for maintaining a classification card against one face of the separator and which is specially constructed so that the card may be quickly and easily placed in position.

An equally important object of this invention is to provide such a filing system separator which is of unique peripheral configuration so as to obviate any difiiculty of non observance of checks which are disposed behind the separator.

An additional important object of this invention is to provide a filing system separator wherein there is provided an initially flat, transparent member which is looped over the uppermost end of the separator panel in a manner so that one longitudinal edge of the classification preclude any possibility of non observance of such checks when the same are removed from the file.

In the drawingz' Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a file 3 cabinet and drawer therefor illustrating the manner in which the improved file system separators of the instant invention are utilized to divide various checks into specific accounts, certain parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, rear elevational view of a file system separator made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a top elevational view of the separator shown in 'Fig. 2; and' Fig. 4 is a vertical, central, cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

A file system separator constructed in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is designated broadly by the numeral 10 and comprises a relatively thin, elongated, fiat panel 12 of cardboard or similar inexpensive, substantially expendable material, and includes a long base edge 14 and an upper top edge 16 which is parallel with edge 14. As shown in Fig. 2, it is preferable to cut away the end edges of panel 12 so as to present a pair of inwardly oblique edges 18, but it is manifest that the same results may be obtained by only cutting away one end of panel 12 to present one oblique edge 18.

Although not necessary in carrying out the objects of the present invention, it has been found desirable to provide a substantially rectangular extension 20 at the uppermost end of panel 12 which has end edges 22 and 24 that intersect with corresponding oblique edges 18.

Structure for releasably holding an elongated classification card 26 in a viewable position adjacent top edge 16 of panel 12 includes an initially flat, substantially rectangular, transparent sheet 28 which is looped over edge 16 so as to present a substantially U-shaped card holder. Means for maintaining holder 28 in position over edge 16 preferably comprises a pair of spaced staples 30 which pass through panel 12 and both of the depending legs 32 and 34 of holder 28. From Fig. 1, it can be seen that staples 30 are spaced a distance greater than the longitudinal length of card 26 so that one of the longitudinal edges of card 26 may be slipped under one of the legs 32 and 34 and thence moved upwardly into engagement with the bight of holder 28.

Means for engaging the lowermost longitudinal edge' 36' are disposed in substantial alignment in increasing spatial'relationship to holder 28. Although the tabs36 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are substantially triangular in configuration, itis rnani fest that any shape will be operable so long as tab sanswmgaem with respect to the face brf 'anel 12;

It qaiiho'wfbef perceived that a classification card 26' may be easily placed in aviewable' position on panel 12 byl riierelysliding one of. the longitudinal edges of card 26unde'r one of 'thelegs 32 or 34 and then placing the otherlongitudinal edge; of card 26 between panel 12 and Oneofthe tab's' fafi. Also, by virtue of the provision of a seriesortabsse; classification cards 26 of difife'ring sizes may be placed in vposition on panel 12 and thus, a greater amountof iuforrnation may be provided on the classification cards than has heretofore been possible. lri'ot heri words, not only rnay'the name of the person who'secheclgs are disposed behind the separator be placed on"the card26 but also'other vital information such as avcopy of his signature, the type of account, and'stop paymen joraer may be displayed in readily observable l tionsh l e Also; by virtueiof the provision of oblique edges 18 it can be see'n that checks 40 extend outwardly beyond each of'the edges 18 ina mannerisoas to be quickly observed without an chance of overlooking the same.

As illustrated, fiiese arater is particularly adapted for use in a file cabinet 42 having a drawer'44 of dimensions to' receive checks,'but'it' is manifest that the dimensions'fo'f panel 12 ma fbe varied so that the separator 10 is adapted for larger types oflette'rs, forms and similar materialsl' M f V I,

" Having thus. described the invention what is claimed as newand desired to be secured by' Letters Patent is: filing"s'ystemseparatorfcomprising an upright, relatively' thin, flat, substantially isosoc'eles trapezoidal panel of inexpensive, expendable material provided with parallel," opposed'uppermost and lowermost margins and am gularly disposed end edges, said uppermostfmargin, dis

4 posed centrally with respect to the lowermost margin, being substantially shorter than said lowermost margin; structure on the panel adapted for releasably holding an elongated classification card of preselected length in a viewable position against one face of the panel adjacent said uppermost edge thereof, said structure including an initially flat, rectangular member of flexible, transparent material looped over said uppermost edge of the panel to present a U-s'haped card 'holder presenting a pair of parallel legs, said legs extending downwardly over opposed faces of the panel only a relatively short distance and a pair of spaced staples passing through said legs of the member and said panel for securing the holder to said panel, said staples beingspaced a distance greater than said preselected length of thecard whereby a card ofsaid length may be quickly placed in said position by sliding one of the longitudinal edges thereof upwardly under one of said legs of the holder between said staples; and a single series of vertically spaced tabs struck from said'panel, disposed beneath and opening upwardly toward said holder and'located along a vertical line equidistant'from opposed end edges of the panel, said tabs being adapted to releasably and selectively engage the other longitudinal edge of said card for maintaining the latter 'in said position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,338,789 Rand May'4; 1920 1,465,499" Thomson Aug.21, 1923 1,705,753 Dawson M31. 19, 1929 1,9 3,133 Wood Aug.22, 1933 1,978,381 Hutchings Oct. 23,1934 2,403,701 ZllbeI July 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 713,398 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1954 734,880 Great Britain Aug. 10-, 1955 1,122,643 France May 28,1956 

